Ottagan Addictions Recovery

The Basics

Founded in 1972, Ottagan Addictions Recovery (OAR) offers residential treatment for those struggling with alcohol and drug abuse in Holland, Michigan. There are two gender specific houses—the Chester A. Ray Center for men and the Harbor House for women. Both houses offer a strong 12-step emphasis, tight community, and a positive and supportive environment for recovery.

As a not-for-profit facility, Ottagan strives to help addicts and alcoholics recover at an affordable price and with compassionate staff members. Dual diagnosis treatment and Detox is not offered.

Accommodations and Food

The Chester A. Ray Center houses 14 men in a 5,000 square-foot historic home. There are four bedrooms—three rooms are double occupancy and one room holds three men. Clients sleep in extra-long twin beds and share bathrooms. The house is kept very clean, as each resident is given a chore. There is a comfortable and homey family room and dining room area, as well as a backyard area where clients can relax, focus on their recovery work and build relationships with each other. In addition, the home has a cat called “Serenity” who clients can play, which can be therapeutic.

The Harbor House is a large historic home that’s over 100 years-old and was completely renovated in 2008. It holds 13 women, and four bedrooms are double-occupancy and there is one large room that holds four women. All women sleep in single beds. Like the Chester Center, the Harbor House has a large living room area and dining room for clients to relax. The house also has a therapeutic dog called “Abbie” who spends a lot of time with clients. Women with infants up to 12 months-old are allowed to stay in the home.

Food is prepared and served in a similar manner at both homes. Breakfast and lunch are casual meals that clients put together themselves, be it cereal, fruit, sandwiches and other easy to make snacks. Dinners are prepared by clients in a rotating order. Each week, two clients are responsible for making dinner. The menu is set by the house manager and is eclectic. All dinners offer a salad bar and a vegetable for vegetarians, and those with allergies or food sensitivities and restrictions can speak to the manager who will try to accommodate the client’s needs.

Treatment and Staff

There are two phases to residential treatment at both houses. The first phase lasts six weeks and aims to treat the client’s primary addiction. This stage of treatment includes group therapy, individual therapy, lectures, assignments that encourage self-reflection and self-awareness, discussions and 12-step meetings. Clients are expected to attend 12-step groups once a day, and there are three held on-site each week. The facility will drive clients to meetings outside the house on the other days.

Individual and group therapy addresses developing coping skills, relapse prevention, stress and anger management and processing upsetting emotions and other personal issues. Clients are also counseled on how to identify negative patterns in thinking and behavior that lead to addiction and poor choices.

During the second six-week phase clients still attend groups and 12-step meetings, but they will focus their energy on developing life skills and independence so they can leave treatment capable of reentering the world and surviving on their own sober. Those in the second phase often act as mentors around the house and encourage people who are in the first phase. During this phase, residents must partake in volunteer activities and look for work.

Staff members include CDACs and LCSWs. In addition, there are house managers and employees who stay overnight to ensure residents remain safe.

The Chester house is staffed with two counselors, a house manager and an evening employee who is on duty over night. At the harbor house, there are three counselors, one house manager and two women who are on duty overnight.

Extras

Clients are taken to the Holland Community Aquatic Center once a week, which has an Olympic swimming pool and a large weight room. ORC supports a holistic approach to addiction, and the facility encourages a healthy lifestyle to promote recovery.

OAR offers a family support program that consists of specialized workshops that are held regularly. Presentations include: Addiction Myths—Facts and Realities, Demystifying Treatment, Family & Addiction—finding hope & healing and Ten Minutes that may Change Your Perception About Drugs & Alcohol. The facility can also help coordinate a family intervention for the client.

Outpatient and intensive outpatient (IOP) programs are available at OAR’s locations in Grand Haven and Holland.

In Summary

For those seeking residential treatment with a strong 12-step emphasis in a supportive environment, Ottagan Addictions Recovery Residential may be a good option. Offering affordable treatment with lots of structure and psychological support, it’s a good place for someone who really needs a life-overhaul and is ready to make some big changes to stay recovered.